Eating Out Healthy: Five clever alternatives for restaurant meals

Eating Out Healthy: Five clever alternatives for restaurant meals

Eating out is, among the little pleasures in life. Dinner dates, family get-togethers, or simply a quick snack with friends—restaurant meals are a regular feature of our social life. If you’re attempting to eat better, however, eating out might seem like a minefield of enticing menu choices packed with hidden calories, sugar, and salt.

The good news is that you won have to give up restaurant food to keep on target. Just a few clever changes and little decisions can let you enjoy your meal free from guilt or bloat later.

Let’s examine five simple, reasonable strategies for dining out without sacrificing your good eating practices.

1. Skip the Coke and Sip Smart.
Sugary beverages are one of the fastest ways you can load empty calories into your dinner. A standard Coke may pack in more than 150 calories; most people, to be honest, do not stop at one glass.

Try substituting water with lemon, sparkling water, or even unsweeteled tea for soda or a sugar-loaded iced tea. After your meal, you’ll feel lighter and more rejuvenated in addition to avoiding the sugar crash.

If you really want a treat, inquire if the restaurant has a naturally sweetened drink choice or go for a tiny fresh juice. You still get taste without the excess.

2. Go for grilled rather than fried.
Though fried adds a lot of fat and calories and may make you feel heavy and lethargic, we all adore crispy fries or golden-brown chicken tenders.

A straightforward trade? Choose grilled, roasted, or steaming takes on your favorite foods. Not only can grilled chicken, fish, or even vegetables preserve more nutrients, but they also let the true tastes show. You will still enjoy your dinner; only without the greasy aftermath.

3. Improve Your Sides
Standard side dishes include French fries, buttery mashed potatoes, or white rice abound in restaurant cuisine. Although delicious, these choices often contain plenty of carbohydrates and fats.

Most eateries are glad to let you trade sides. Ask instead for brown rice, roasted vegetables, or a side salad. Without adding big calories, even a basic dish of steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach may increase your fiber and vitamins.

And if you’re feeling daring, you could even double up on lean protein or salad and completely avoid the sides.

4. See the Portions; Take Half Home.
To be honest, restaurant quantities sometimes much exceed our requirements in one sitting. It does not imply, however, you have to waste food—or consume it all at once.

Ask for a takeaway box when your food comes and pack half straight away. This provides a ready-to-eat lunch for the next day and helps you prevent thoughtless overindulgence.

Your future self will thank you; you will leave the table content rather than stuffed.

5. Sauces and Dressings on Demand
Dressings, sauces, and spreads really help to transform a good meal into a calorie bomb. That is the grilled chicken salad? Not very light once creamy ranch covers it.

Ask for sauces and dressings on the side instead of removing taste (because, let’s be honest, boring food is never fun). This allows you total control over your use. Often, only a teaspoon can improve flavor without overpowering the food or your aims.

And substitute yogurt-based sauces or vinaigrettes with heavy cream or mayo-based dressings whenever at all feasible.